Add a splash of color in low light with these water-wise selections
ironical - subtlety gardening might sound like a challenging proposition , but there ’s an outstanding raiment of option available to water - wise to gardeners looking to tot up repeated coloring material and textural diverseness to shadier smirch of the garden . Not all shade is produce adequate ; shade can browse from deep , only - a - fern - will - live dark to bright , filter , or dappled light . The five fabulous plants below all demand shelter from the sun ’s intense good afternoon rays here in Northern California but will do well with some patrician morning sun or even bright , dappled sun all day . For best resolution , set these easy - fear perennials in copious , well - amended , well - drain soil . These are not hungry works , and all can graciously put up ironical period and some neglect . But once spring rain have finish , be certain to irrigate them at least once a week , and supplement with a little extra water during hot spells . to boot , it ’s always a dear idea to use dribble irrigation and to mulch all of your recurrent beds , admit those of your shade garden , to aid in moisture conservation .
‘Blue Waterfall’ Serbian bellflower
Campanula poscharskyana‘Blue Waterfall ’ , Zones 4–9
This wizardly , easy - tutelage , and super - floriferous perennial has proven itself to be remarkably kind of Northern California ’s ironical summers . Erupting in a long - lasting shower of sky - blue efflorescence in late spring , this vigorous primer coat - hugger take care equally delicious tracking over stone walls , creeping between stepping stones , or cascading from windowpane boxes and hanging basket . A profuseness of dainty , bell - form flush appear toward the end of each trailing root , leaving the centre of the plant lushly fill up with tiny , toothy , orchard apple tree green leaves . Reaching 8 inch mellow and trailing to 2 feet all-inclusive , Serbian bellflower responds well to shearing after each salad days cycle .
Black mondo grass
Ophiopogon planiscapus‘Nigrescens ’ , Zones 5–10
An outstandingly easy - to - like - for plant , black-market mondo grass has dense glob of purplish black , grasslike leafage . It offer great opportunities for coloring contrast and looks especially appealing planted with chartreuse or ash grey - foliaged plant life . Inconspicuous pale lavender blooms appear in summer and are followed by cryptic over-embellished berries in fall . It ’s a howling pick for edging shaded paseo or patios , and it look fabulous tucked into mixed containers . Black mondo grass grows 5 to 6 inches tall and spreads slowly via hugger-mugger rootstalk .
‘Druett’s Variegated’ rock campion
Silene uniflora‘Druett ’s motley ’ , Zones 4–9
Though this delightful campion can tolerate full sun , it performs better and with considerably less water when given good afternoon shade . off-white - edged , succulent , low-spirited - dark-green leaves form a 2 - inch - high , 2 - foot - broad cushiony mat that is topped in early summertime with long - lasting , balloon - influence white flowers . It ’s complete for use in adjoin walk , and it shed out of container . It looks especially lovely immix with smuggled mondo grass . Variegated rock candy catchfly is well-to-do to handle for — just trim it back if it start to appear straggly or wanders where it ’s not wanted .
‘Velvet Elvis’ Swedish ivy
Plectranthus‘Velvet Elvis ’ , Zones 9–11
Even out of salad days , this sturdy , black - stemmed hummingbird favorite add beauty to shaded borders and container with its bushy , rounded mound of succulent , purple - light-green foliation . In late summer through fall , masses of large , long - live on bloom spikes bear spectacular purple flowers . These flowers rise above vibrant , velvety foliation for a long - lasting and dazzling display . ‘ Velvet Elvis ’ Swedish ivy is disease resistant , easy to get , and extremely rewarding . It will grow 32 inches tall and just as wide . It is crank , so protect it when temperatures dip below freezing .
‘Biokovo’ geranium
Geranium×cantabrigiense‘Biokovo ’ , Zones 5–9
‘ Biokovo ’ sturdy geranium ’s fragrant , low - growing , evergreen mound of leaf makes the thoroughgoing backdrop for dainty pink - and - livid flowers that bloom from late leaping to midsummer . Fall ’s ice chest temperature bring a signature of orange , bronze , and red to the evergreen foliage , sum up to the year - round interest group of this reliable , no - trouble perennial . drouth large-minded and deer resistant ( and apparently gopher immune also ) , this charming hardy geranium is my go - to ground cover for “ impossible ” shady spots . It grow 6 to 12 inches high in bloom and spread slowly via rhizomes .
Honorable mentions
Two other plants that also do beautifully in the shadier , dry spots in my garden are the silver - foliagedAngel Wings ® senecio(Senecio candicans‘Senaw ’ , Zones 8–11 ) and the late introduced and lovely‘Miner ’s Merlot ’ empurpled wood spurge(Euphorbia‘Miner ’s Merlot ’ , Zones 6–9 ) . Check them out as well !
— Fionuala Campion is the owner and managing director of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .
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‘Velvet Elvis’ Swedish ivy blooms with an abundance of purple, hummingbird-attracting flowers.Photo courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc.
‘Blue Waterfall’ Serbian bellflower can grow up a fence like a vine, or act as a ground cover or cascading container plant.Photo: Fionuala Campion
The dark foliage of black mondo grass shines with hues of purple and green that can be highlighted in planting combinations.Photo: Fionuala Campion
The leaves of variegated rock campion are bright and pretty enough to be mistaken for petals.Photo: Fionuala Campion
‘Velvet Elvis’ Swedish ivy adds a burst of color in the shade with bright purple tubular flowers.Photo: courtesy of TERRA NOVA®Nurseries, Inc.
‘Biokovo’ hardy geranium has multiseason interest, with dainty pink flowers in spring and foliage that changes color in fall.Photo: Fionuala Campion
